Luguentz Dort brings NBA championship trophy home to Montreal North
Posted August 21, 2025 1:08 pm.
Last Updated August 22, 2025 1:24 am.
NBA champion Luguentz Dort returned to his roots on Thursday, carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy through the streets of Montreal North — the same borough where he first dreamed of making it big.
Two months after helping the Oklahoma City Thunder clinch Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Dort was welcomed back by a crowd of fans lining the streets for a celebratory homecoming parade.
The event, held at Pilon Park, was more than just a victory lap — it was a moment of pride and inspiration for the entire community.
“It makes me feel really good honestly,” Dort said, reflecting on the impact of seeing so many young fans wearing his jersey. “At a young age, coming from here, I didn’t have a specific guy to look at to be like I want to be like them. And then to be in this position to the kids’ eyes today, it’s huge. It just shows how the work really is paying off and how much I carry this city and this neighbourhood with a lot of problems.”
The celebration ran from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and featured a full lineup of family-friendly activities, including music, live performances, a photo session with the NBA trophy, sports games, and a free BBQ. At the heart of it all was Dort — affectionately known as “Lu” or “LuTheBeast” — sharing his time with local kids and community members.
Dort: ‘Any success I have, I want to share with my people‘
The 25-year-old took time during the festivities to revisit places that shaped his journey: Saint-Laurent Park, where he first picked up a basketball, and the home he grew up in. It was a full-circle moment for the Montreal native, who recently made history not only with his NBA title but also by representing Canada in his first Olympic appearance at Paris 2024.
“Any success I have, I want to share with my people,” Dort said. “Honestly, like I said, there’s not a lot of us that get to make it to the big stage. As soon as we won, I got to come back home with it. Especially where I grew up. I had a long day. I went to the park I used to play at when I was young. I went in front of my house that I grew up in. Now I’m here with even more kids and more and more actions. So I’m really happy to be here.”
Local leaders call for sports centre in Montreal North
Dort’s homecoming celebration also reignited calls for long-promised infrastructure: a dedicated sports complex for Montreal North — a borough with a young, growing population but limited recreational facilities.
“We are very proud. Proud of our district, for our cartier Montreal Nord, and also we are so proud with Lu,” said Abdelhaq Sari, Federal Member of Parliament for Bourassa. “Today is a day very important for us, especially for another time for our sports center, because we don’t have in this place a sports center in Montreal North. It’s the only place in Canada with these younger people, this population, and we don’t have any sports center. It’s very important to send this message for all of our development.”
Mayor Christine Black echoed the urgency.
“We wanted to make a big party, and I think that’s a mission accomplished,” Black said. “But I was also saying a little word to mention how much the need and the urgency of having a sports center here in Montréal-Nord. Luguentz is the perfect example. He started here, but then he had to go out to park ex, to other places to be able to practice his sport and reach the NBA.”
‘Respect every dream’: leaders highlight message of perseverance
For community leaders, Dort’s success story serves as a beacon for what young people in the area can achieve — if they are given the right resources and encouragement.
“Even if your origins and your parents come from each country, it’s very important to continue to have perseverance,” Sari said. “You have more courage to be like Lou, to be like other people, like our authors, like artists, or deputies, or politicians, or now as a basketball player, as Luguentz Dort today.”
Reflecting on the emotional moment of seeing Dort return home with the championship trophy, Sari added: “I’m very proud. As a citizen first, before to be MP, I’m very proud because I saw all the trajectory.”
A historic moment for Montreal North
Mayor Black underlined the historic significance of the day, calling it a moment of pride for the entire community.
“Today, we’re living, Montreal North, in a moment extraordinary, a historic moment, without any doubt,” she said. “It is the second time that Montreal North has the opportunity to have the chance to receive the trophy, Larry O’Brien. The last time was in 2019. Today, it was in 2025 with Luguentz Dort. The last time was with Chris Boucher. It shows how much our community is filled with talent.”
The homecoming parade, which saw hundreds of fans take to the Montreal borough where Dort grew up, came one day after the basketball star signed the Golden Book at Montreal’s city hall.
‘He makes the kids believe’: Fans celebrate Dort as a hometown hero and role model
Fans of all ages lined the streets of Montreal North to welcome home their hometown hero.
“I really want to see Lu, he’s an NBA champ and I’ve watched all of his games this series and he represents Montreal — we really like him,” said Elliot, who proudly described himself as a new but passionate supporter. “I’ve been a fan since pretty much this year because I’ve known him before, but now he’s big — he’s won the championship and I’m a big fan now.”
For many, Dort’s return was more than just about basketball. “It’s good for the youth because they actually believe now — it’s somebody they can see not only on TV but here in the park,” said one fan.
Another added, “He makes the kids believe that they can achieve whatever they make their mind into… he’s a role model for the kids.”
The excitement and pride were palpable. “I’m very excited — it shows the talent in Montreal,” one fan shared, while another reflected, “It was really amazing to see a Quebecer that performed and he’s from Montreal North.”
Echoing the crowd’s emotion, one man simply said, “I’m very grateful. It’s very important to represent this community.”
For many, Dort is more than a sports star — he’s living proof that dreams from Montreal North can come true. “He’s just a perfect example for them to just have a dream.”
